Pipe connector



Aug. 19, 1958 M. D. TYLER PIPE CONNECTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 21 1955 r mr V J 3 m 0 n e 9 f a. B O 0 2 3 Wi r w m 7 2' u 3 2 7 2 l 4 2 0 7 2 ATTORNEYS Aug. 19, 1958 M. D. TYLER 2,848,256

PIPE CONNECTOR Filed Nov. 21, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent This invention relates, to connectors, and more particularlytto quick-acting, grip connectors for cylindrical members, such as pipes, rods, etc.

The joining of two cylindrical members in such a manner that the joint istreadily disengageable and still provides a leakproof seal for joined pipe's has "plagued'in dusjtry for years, A threaded joint. is not satisfactory since it involvesasubstantial amountof labor and a number ofvery specialized toolsformaking the external and internal threads, and a substantial amount of skilled labor isrequired in joiningtwo threadedirnembfers'; especially where the m mber e 'e j ined are long nd h yhe ypese c nnectorshave. various. defects. which re-' uce. their. effe iveness wh re p.eed..of=i ining, leakprqof,

reduced laborreguirements and stre'ngth'of joint .are'prime equ s f r h i oini g f such. ylindric l .rnembers.

A co d ng. to thetpresentvinventio I have provide a COIIBFQFQI; for cy i dri almembers. hich is tr ng no to hs and cons erabl str sses. and strainsdue m e si nand heading, and. yet ecu e y. hc ds'the y1in icalmemh u de heavy mpa t ads. Ihepermector s eas ly andqu kly npliedi q e.teu s.et-. o ;cy ndrical members, anditis easily removed. evenj after pe} i$ of n we hece ne to s sefu fcrc' nne tis p in, nd li ders h t t ompl elr e s theie rls. of e nder qeeth r etha x ernal mattert tst ept,

wt f e jo nt. nd. where te n ma eris rithet y d r it is rex nted rqm akin t h qu h the jo nt- Q P WEQ s, t! valua le .for jo n ipes carr in inflammable fluids s ch s, et qlehrn, a asoline cor:-

rosive fluids, and the like, and it is also very valuable for connectinglengths of drilling rods; and othrapplications where a very strongconnector isreqn ired.

Included among the ob ects ana' qvantages of the pres ent inventiori' is the provision of a'co be utili z 'ed'on the unworked end of a ci 'hndrica or for joining and sealing the ends "fot such cjyhnd cal members'fThe connector may be used to join pipes, tubes, rods, and the like, and the connector will maintain the joint of the members under severe tension, and bending loads. The connector is arranged to completely seal the end of each cylindrical member so that there will be no leaking of matter either into or out of the connection. The connector is readily adaptable for use in the field without the need of special tools for preparing the ends of the cylindrical members for receiving the connector. The connector may be utilized to join cylindrical members together or to join a cylindrical member on other structures such as pumps, tanks, and the like.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention may be readily ascertained by referring to the following description and illustrations in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a connector according to the invention in place on a tubular member;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of a connector arranged to join two sections of a cylindrical member;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the clamping member of the connector of the invention;

2. Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the clamping memof g W Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view of gripping portions of the clamping 5-'- 5','and

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of backuse inithe connector of the'ifivention."

In the device selected for illustrationin Fig. 1, a sleeve, shown in general,.by"nume'ral 1, includesacylindrical tu bular portion 2 andan adjoining tapered sectionBnhavirig' p ring for an open end 4.. The oppositeend 5 .of .the me'mber1;is-

of substantially reduced. diameter providing a shoulder" 6 which joins'the small diarneter end section SHandIthe" cylindrical section 2. The open end ".4 is arranged to tele scope over aqcylindrical'or tubiular membTerT-With sphstantial clearance" therearound. In the case ofFig. 1; the cylindrical member 7f is illustrated as a tube; however, any hollowjor solid cylinder may be telescoped in the connector, depending on the use. "The tube] telescopes within the sleeve 1. and abu ts a neoprene or like-plastic seal Sjseatedagainst the internal surface of the shoulder 6, A metal backmp ring 9,; which telescopes over the D ,Q. 1ll2 s atsia a st h eopre e h licalsrrimll is mou ted in ern l o v h ee t eqepei enthe ll e nd, it buts e ng 11. whi h spc' t aet saihstfa backup r tua he s n llcon st j t a erie O inalesea .r h swhi h e ainst 2K r and a ainst the n n l slirt se yl nde wi "eterna rrtaceettubel, Th? eal in s 1.1 re

1m. the e al s a r n 2 Pri c tq h hehs lsrr hs 0 s, 3 rsaffici atilea th eas ment -abi y t e shrhp e s hleinwh lr' cylinder 2 t the q lder 9. Permit cqasrderehle he emsht of he sea ihe f l aes1. Ahyhh er. tainer sleeve 14 is mounted internally of th e sleeve} in hi li ht. r3 50 i 9 peri h a pa ed hcht than; h he ao' rd ieea Plh h p p,-

i sf'i'fs tiv "sm ll a pe thirl 13ml. lp. .w/Lnfw :1: serrations for gripping an engaged cyllndncal mem ber.

Each of the grooves 20 includes a slit 24 cut longitudinally of the sleeve from the large end 25 part Way through the sleeve. Each groove 20 includes another slit 27 extending from sleeve end 26 and which does not extend through the sleeve. The outer ends of the cylindrical internal surface 23 of the sleeve is bevelled at 28 and to facilitate the telescoping of the sleeve over a retained cylindrical member. A groove 30 encircles the projections 21 adjacent thelarge end 26. The slits 24 and 27 overlap a substantial distance along the lateral length of the sleeve so that the sleeve is laterally compressible from a larger to a smaller diameter. The sleeve is normally made of metal with sufficient spring to return the sleeve back to full diameter when the compression pressure is released therefrom.

The back-up rings 13 and 9, illustrated in Fig. 6, are annular members 33 with a maximum diameter 34 slightly Patented Aug. 1958 member of .Fig. 3', taken alongsection line:

v the h t er ehf. he, pr salh arm n area bet e n. he ube n the,

to the 3 less than the diameter of the internal surface of the cylindrical section 2, and an internal diameter 35 slightly larger than the diameter of the tubular member to be telescoped in the device. .Theba'ck-upxrmg 33 is divided at one portion thereof by means of a slit 36 whicheX-T tends at an angle to a radius of the ring. The angleEslit provides means for expansion and contraction of the ring in the event the same is necessary in movementinside the sleeve. The back-up rings are made of metal or relatively rigid plastic, reinforced plastic and the like.

In use, the retainer sleeve 14 is pushed inwardly in the sleeve compressing the spring so that the sleeve 14 is permitted to expand. A pipe or cylindricalmemher 7 is then inserted in the sleeve to a position wherethe end of the pipe abuts the end seal 8. The sleeve 14 is then released and the spring pushes the sleeve into the tapered section 3, compressing the sleeve and gripping the cylindrical member. A rubber or plastic seal is then forced in the open end 4 of the sleeve so as to completely seal the mechanism. The spring 10 is of such a length and construction that when the sleeve 14 is engaging a telescoped, cylindrical member the spring 10 is under compression was to positively force the sleeve 14 into the tapered portion 3 clamping on-the enclosed member. If the cylindrical members *being connected are under tension, i. e., pulling the member 7 away from the sleeve 1, the sleeve 14 is pulled further into the tapered section 3 increasing the clamping pressure on the member and thereby causing a tighter connection. In bending movement, the tube is substantially reinforced by the sleeve 14 so that substantially any bending must occur beyond the sleeve section 1, and obviously there are no threads to jam on either tension or bending. On compression, the member 7 abuts the shoulder 6 forming a tighter seal, and since the spring 10 is under the tapered section 3 forming a tight seal.

The connector utilizes two major seals, i. e. seal 8 for the end of the pipe 7 and the seal rings 11 and 12. The secondary seal 15 adds a safeguard for the connector. These three seals insure a positive seal to prevent leaking of fluid from joined pipes even when the pipes are under various stresses and strains. One important feature is that the seals are not permanent be used many times over with effectiveness.

The sleeve member may be joined to another sleeve member by means of the small section 5, for example as illustrated in Fig. 2, as a connector for two tubular sections 7. In this case the sleeve section of the one side is a mirror image of the sleeve section of theother side. The portion 5 may also be directly connected, as

seals but may To remove the pipe or cylinder from the sleeve, the retainer sleeve 14 is pressed inwardly toward the spring 10 relieving the compressive forces on the retainer sleeve and releasing the tubular member 7. A thin, elongated slip-ring may be used to pass in the opening between the sleeve and the pipe so as to bear against the sleeve, depressing the spring 10 and releasing the compressive forces on the retainer sleeve 14. The pipe is then easily removed from the sleeve. A similar slip-ring may be used to depress the spring and open the clamping ring so as to permit the entry of a pipe.

While the invention has been described by reference .to particular illustrations, there is no intent to limit the concept to the precise details so described, except insofar as set forth in the following claim.

I claim:

A connector for joining lengths of tubular members comprising a hollow body arranged to telescope over endwise aligned ends of two tu'blular members with a substantial clearance therebetween, said body being necked down intermediate the ends thereof forming an internal shoulder in one end of said sleeve arranged to substantially abut the ends of telescoped tubular members, said hollow body member having an elongated axially tapered internal end surface from a maximum diameter at a point spaced from said shoulder to the open ends thereof, a sealing member mounted in said body arranged as a seal between said shoulder and each of the ends of telescoped tubular members, a helical spring in said body on each side of and abutting said shoulder and arranged to telescope over associated tubular members, an elongated tapered tubular clamping sleeve mounted in said body on each side of said shoulder and arranged to telescope with associated tubular members and provide a substantial contact area therebetween, the inner surface of said clamping sleeve being arranged for a normal close fit in open position permitting entry of a tubular member and a tight gripping fit in closed position on a tubular member, said springs normally urging said clamping sleeves toward said open ends of said body whereby the taper of said inner surfaces thereof tends to close said clamping sleeves, a seal between each said springs and each said clamping sleeves arranged to form second seals between said body and each telescoped tubular member, and a dust seal mounted in the outer end opening of said hollow body forming a third seal at each end between said body and each telescoped tubular member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,357,219 Brewster Nov. 2, 1920 1,586,793 Fowler June 1, 1926 2,017,994 Spang Oct. 22, 1935 2,708,124 Robb May 10, 1955 

